Midwest

Minnesota Dems disavow endorsement of candidate accused of stalking opponent

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2024

Minnesota Dems disavow endorsement of candidate accused of stalking opponent

The Minnesota Democratic Party has disavowed a local chapter’s endorsement of Judd Hoff, a state House candidate with a troubling criminal past.
Hoff is also accused of digging through his Republican opponent’s garbage and moving into a house across the street from hers.
Republican state Rep. Josh Heintzeman also noted Hoff’s harassment of Rep. Mary Franson has gone as far as “publishing her address and contact information, filming her at her private residence, and relentlessly sending rude and threatening messages online.”

Minnesota Democrats have disavowed a local party chapter’s endorsement of a state House candidate who has a violent criminal history and is accused of stalking and harassing the Republican lawmaker he is challenging.

Judd Hoff was endorsed this month by Democrats in District 12 to run for a central Minnesota seat that has been represented by Republican Rep. Mary Franson of Alexandria since 2011. Republicans were quick Monday to demand that Democrats rescind their backing of Hoff.

“Democrats must withdraw their endorsement of this repeat criminal,” GOP Rep. Josh Heintzeman, of Nisswa, said in a statement. “For years he has harassed and stalked Rep. Franson by digging through her trash, publishing her address and contact information, filming her at her private residence, and relentlessly sending rude and threatening messages online.”

MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT SEEKS TO HIRE $100-200K ‘ANTI-RACIST’ OFFICIAL WHO CAN EXAMINE ‘WHITENESS’

Franson’s district is heavily Republican and is not considered competitive. She won reelection in 2022 with nearly 70% of the vote. She tweeted that she considered Hoff to be dangerous and asked, “Why is this the guy they want as a candidate?”

Ken Martin, chairman of Minnesota’s Democratic Party, said in statement later Monday that the party “strongly disavows this endorsement,” and he asked the local party unit to withdraw its endorsement immediately. He said the state party won’t spend any of its resources to support Hoff.

The Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul is photographed. (Google Earth)

“We all have a responsibility, regardless of party or ideology, to reject violence in our politics — we can and should expect better from candidates for elected office,” the Democratic leader said.

Hoff’s criminal history includes a felony second-degree assault conviction for wielding a 23-inch machete during an argument in 2020. He was sentenced to 13 months and spent about eight months in jail. Court records show the judge gave him a break over the prosecution’s objections because the victim was the initial aggressor.

In a video posted to YouTube, first surfaced by former GOP operative Michael Brodkorb, Hoff admitted to digging through Franson’s garbage and acknowledged moving into a home across the street from Franson.

The chair of the district and county party committee, Bonnie Bina, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Hoff was the only candidate who came forward to run for the seat. She acknowledged that it’s hard to recruit Democratic candidates to take on incumbents in such a heavily Republican area.

Bina also acknowledged that delegates knew that Hoff had a criminal record and had spent time in prison. But she said he told them he was past that and had become active in the community. She declined to comment on whether they were aware of the allegations that he harassed Franson.

The local party committee will decide its next steps after getting more information from the state party office and reviewing party rules, she said, adding that she didn’t know how long that would take.

Hoff did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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Milwaukee, WI

16 music and theater performances to see in Milwaukee in January 2026

Published

52 minutes ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

16 music and theater performances to see in Milwaukee in January 2026

During the performing arts season, arts editor Jim Higgins recommends promising music, dance and theater productions to see in the coming month. Look for these stories in the newspaper the final Sunday of the month. They post online the preceding week at jsonline.com/entertainment/arts.

In Milwaukee’s performing arts scene, the first month of 2026 brings the return of the 21st century’s revolutionary musical, plus a new stage work about Wisconsin artist Mary Nohl.

Also, it’s a good month for Mozart, both in the concert hall and on stage.

Here are 16 theater, music and dance performances you can enjoy in the Milwaukee area in January. I would never tell you that these are the only shows worth seeing here during that time period.

‘The Godfather,’ Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Associate conductor Ryan Tani leads the MSO in performing Nino Rota’s Oscar-nominated score live to screenings of Francis Ford Coppola’s classic American film. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2-3. Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

‘Cardboard Piano,” Renaissance Theaterworks

Hansol Jung’s drama, which opens in war-ravaged Uganda in 1999, takes on compelling conflicts about faith and homophobia. Jan. 9-Feb. 1, 255 S. Water St. Visit rtwmke.org or call (414) 278-0765.

‘The Fisherman’s Daughters,’ Milwaukee Repertory Theater

In singer-songwriter Katie Dahl’s musical, set in Door County, two sisters fight the state of Wisconsin’s attempt to take their land by eminent domain. Milwaukee Rep says this show is recommended for people 10 years and older. Jan. 9-March 1, Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. Visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

‘Celtic Throne II – Psalter of Ireland,” Marcus Performing Arts Center

This all-ages Irish dance, music and theater show is built around the story of the mythological lawgiver Ollav Fola. 7 p.m. Jan. 15, Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

‘The Lehman Trilogy,’ Milwaukee Repertory Theater

The Rep’s second fully staged production in the upgraded Checota Powerhouse Theater is an epic story of immigration, economic ascension and financial collapse, running an estimated 3 hours and 40 minutes with two intermissions. It’s coming to Milwaukee from Minnesota’s Guthrie Theater. Jan. 13-Feb. 8, Checota Powerhouse Theater, 108 E. Wells St. Visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.

‘Maybe We’ll Fly,” Milwaukee Opera Theatre

Milwaukee Opera Theatre is presenting staged readings of a new play by Wisconsin playwright Marie Kohler with music by composer Josh Schmidt. Subject: the life and passion to create of Mary Nohl (1914-2001), who transformed her Fox Point cottage and yard into an artistic environment. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Florentine Leuders Opera Center, 926 E. Burleigh St. Visit milwaukeeoperatheatre.org.

‘Folk Songs,’ Trio Mediæval

Early Music Now presents this Norway-based vocal ensemble, in a concert of Norwegian and Scandinavian songs, including lullabies and tales of courtly love. 5 p.m. Jan. 17, St. Joseph Chapel, 1515 S. Layton Blvd. Visit earlymusicnow.org or (414) 225-3113.

‘Hamilton,’ Marcus Performing Arts Center

The 21st century’s most popular musical returns for its third visit to Milwaukee; it was last here in 2021, when Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop-infused look at the Founding Fathers reopened the Marcus Performing Arts Center following the pandemic lockdown year. Sixteen performances are scheduled for Jan. 20-Feb. 1 at MPAC, 929 N. Water St. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

‘Amadeus,’ Skylight Opera Theatre

Peter Shaffer’s play pits Mozart, genius composer but vulgar human being, against his more ordinary rival Salieri. Skylight’s production will include a live chamber orchestra. Matt Daniels, Milwaukee Rep’s Scrooge, takes on the key role of Salieri. Jan. 23-Feb. 8, Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Visit skylightmusictheatre.org or call (414) 291-7800.

Kerson Leong and Bernard Labadie, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Soloist Leong performs Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, one of the peaks of violin repertoire. Guest conductor Labadie leads the orchestra in Hadyn’s Symphony No. 103 (“Drumroll”). 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23-24, Bradley Symphony Center. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

‘I Am My Own Wife,’ Milwaukee Chamber Theatre

Doug Wright’s one-actor play won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for best play in 2004. In Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s new production, Jonathan Riker will perform all the characters in this story of famed German transgender figure Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. Jan. 23-Feb. 8, Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Visit milwaukeechambertheatre.org or call (414) 291-7800.

‘Baroque Unbound’ Frankly Music

Harpsichodist Paolo Bordignon and piccoloist Jennifer Bouton join violinist Frank Almond and other musicians to perform music of the Baroque era by Vivaldi, Bach and other composers. 7 p.m. Jan. 26, Wisconsin Lutheran College Schwan Concert Hall, 8815 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa. Visit franklymusic.org.

‘Encore,’ Milwaukee Ballet

Milwaukee Ballet performs a program of classical and contemporary dance in its intimate We Energies Performance Studio, a 172-seat venue. Jan. 30-Feb. 8, Baumgartner Center for Dance, 128 N. Jackson St. Visit milwaukeeballet.org or call (414) 902-2103.

‘Hellenika,’ Marcus Performing Arts Center

Playwright-composer Kyle Thomas Hanneken has been working for seven years on this large-scale musical about the Greek philosopher Socrates, his teacher Aspasia and the fate of democracy in Athens. While these performances are billed as public readings rather than a fully staged production, this is a big show with 20 performers and 30 songs. 7 p.m. Jan. 30-31, Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. Visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206.

Stephen Hough, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Pianist Hough, a MacArthur “genius grant” awardee who’s also a composer and a significant writer about music, visits the MSO to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, which movie buffs know from its use in “Elvira Madigan” (1967). Guest conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni leads a program that includes Mozart’s “Prague” Symphony and works by Ligeti and Kodály. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Bradley Symphony Center. Visit mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

Julian Lage, Wilson Center for the Arts

A former child prodigy, Lage is a leading contemporary jazz guitarist and composer. His performance was rescheduled to this date from a previously planned summer concert here. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Wilson Center for the Arts, 3270 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield. Visit wilson-center.com or call (262) 781-9520.

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Minneapolis, MN

Man fatally shot in Minneapolis, 17-year-old arrested

Published

1 hour ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Man fatally shot in Minneapolis, 17-year-old arrested

article

The scene of the shooting on Thomas Avenue North. (FOX 9)

A man was fatally shot after an argument early Tuesday morning in Minneapolis.

Fatal shooting on Thomas Avenue North

What we know:

According to Minneapolis police, around 2:30 a.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of Thomas Avenue North on reports of a shooting inside a home.

At the scene, officers found a man with several gunshot wounds. The man was taken to the hospital, where he later died, police said.

Authorities say that an argument led to gunfire, and the suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

A 17-year-old was arrested in connection to the shooting, and police say they are investigating “connections” between the teen arrested and other violent crimes in Minneapolis this year.

What they’re saying:

“Another family has forever been impacted by senseless violence,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “Settling disputes with a firearm is completely unacceptable, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice in this case.  Every available tool in the juvenile justice system must be used to protect young people who pose a danger to themselves as well as the community.”

What we don’t know:

Police did not specify the gender of the 17-year-old. And the other crimes the teen could be connected to were not specified.

The man who was fatally shot has not been identified.

The Source: A press release from the Minneapolis Police Department.

Crime and Public SafetyMinneapolis

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Indianapolis, IN

Shoppers find calm amidst holiday rush at Fashion Mall at Keystone

Published

1 hour ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Shoppers find calm amidst holiday rush at Fashion Mall at Keystone

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Procrastinators on Tuesday hit the Fashion Mall at Keystone to snag those last-minute gifts.

There were lines to get to shops, including jeweler Pandora, but that didn’t stop 8-year-old Blane Randolph from getting something for his mom. He’s looked at getting a frame or bracelets. “It feels good, because I like giving stuff to people.”

The National Retail Federation has estimates consumers are each budgeting an average of $890 for seasonal items, and that holiday sales in the U.S. will surpass $1 trillion.

Experts say buying at brick-and-mortar stores means having last-minute gifts in hand without worrying about shipping.

James Payer of the Fashion Mall at Keystone on the north side of Indianapolis described the shoppers as calm this season. “The stress level isn’t as stressful as it used to be, because people have a plan and they’re executing that plan.”

He recommended grabbing a coffee or a gelato while shopping to enjoy the experience.

Besides the big box stores, News 8 got a chance to stop by a local gift shop called Silver in the City in downtown Indianapolis and spoke to shopper Jennifer Courteney. “I love shopping small and making sure we’re using stores that are local and not big box stores for everything, so it’s really important to shop small and support local business on Mass Avenue.”

She got little baby socks with meatball prints, and a Star Wars book for a new dad. She didn’t seem too frazzled by the last-minute shopping.

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